Thursday, May 15, 2008

I respect that the world is made up of a variety of tastes but I must say that I'm not sure this writer and I are watching the same show.

Warning: There is flash of a spoiler for The Pain in the Heart but it has zero to do with plot and everything to do with gratuitous David Boreanaz sexiness.

Please give us a line and tell us what you think about the author's take on our beloved Bones.

'Bones' doesn't dig deep, but it's addictive for some

Some people are utterly devoted to "Bones," which has its season finale 7 p.m. Monday on WFLD-Ch. 32. I don't quite get it. Sure, the show is likable and plucky, but it is also, in the main, overwhelmingly average.

Still, the show’s season finale, which revolved around the ongoing “Gormogon” serial-killer plot, held my interest, and I don’t mind having spent 43 minutes of my life watching it. If there’s one thing that “Bones” has figured out, it’s that serial killers + explosions + partial nudity is a winning TV formula.

Don’t worry that this junior “CSI” is turning in to “Nip/Tuck” – the “naked” moment occurs when Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel) barges in on FBI agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) as he lounges in his bathtub at home. The most revealing thing about this mildly comedic scene is that Brennan discovers Booth likes to loll in his bath wearing a beer-dispensing helmet.

“Bones” often goes for that mildly comedic tone, but I find the show’s dialogue relatively pedestrian, for the most part. If you’re among those “Bones” fans who thinks that Deschanel and Boreanaz (pictured above) enjoy sizzling chemistry on screen, you no doubt find that their scenes together zing and swing.

On the other hand, if you don’t find the thespian skills of Boreanaz or Deschanel particularly memorable, you might find their scenes a little too self-conciously “jokey.” These actors are competent at best, and though she’s gotten better over the show’s three seasons and her physical awkwardness is less pronounced, Deschanel can still seem strangely vacant at times.

Of the “squints” or scientists working in Brennan’s high-tech forensic lab, T.J. Thyne, who plays Jack Hodgins, is the most compelling. He’s able to give this conspiracy-theorist and entomologist some welcome layers of depth, which come in handy during Monday’s episode, during which life is made decidedly tricky for Hodgins.

But newer addition Lance Sweets, a very young psychological expert, is a prototypical “Bones” character – he has little depth but lots of “funny” lines. Sweets (even his name is cringe-inducingly obvious) is a by-the-numbers “comic relief” guy and as such, this character has an off-putting, one-note sameness.

However I must admit that actor John Francis Daley (“Freaks and Geeks”) does as much as possible with this limited role.

All things considered, I find “Bones” a little lightweight for my tastes (which don’t favor dead-body procedurals, it must be noted).

But I’m sure many of my criticisms of “Bones” – that it is repetitive, self-consciously jokey and a little too pleased with itself – could be made about “Psych,” which is one of my not-so-guilty pleasures.

If “Bones” lightens your Monday each week, I don’t begrudge you that. To each his or her own.

Futon Critic has the release from Fox that gives all the show descriptions for the fall. Bones is included. Read with caution. You may gain more knowledge than you want and realize the spoiler for The Pain in the Heart if you read it carefully.

Please don't put spoilers in comments but feel free to express your emotions if you brave it and peek.

Men's Fitness has a great interview with T.J. Thyne. He's been in so many different projects and commercials his face is often recognizable even when his name is not.

So what comes more naturally to you, TV or film? Or is it the mix that keeps you going in this industry?

Well, I come from the school of thought that acting is acting, is acting, is acting. It doesn’t matter if it’s on stage, TV, or a film camera. The opportunity to be a storyteller is the greatest thing in the world, and I feel so lucky and really love it. I think the best-case scenario would be to do all three—to woo all three sisters of film, stage, and television. I think the people who probably have it the best are the people on cable like on Entourage, the Sopranos, etc. who have 13 episodes per season and breaks to do films and theatre. I think that’s the most ideal life.

What is it about the show that makes people want to keep watching for a third round?

The draw has always been the characters. This is a show that takes place in the world of forensics, like other shows, but ultimately you watch this show for the characters. It’s like Indiana Jones, who’s an anthropologist, but ultimately you watch it because of his character, not his job. They’re fun to watch. Also, I think the show has an excellent blend of humor with drama. There’s this fine line between the fantastical and reality, and a lot of wit.

This article at USA Today leaves it open, showing Bones' history as a Fox lineup filler. The author believes that Monday will be Terminator and Prisonbreak, leaving House for Tuesdays and Bones for wherever Fox is willing to stick it.

Historically, Bones has done well anywhere in the lineup which is a testament to the strength of it's audience. But if Fox would stop treating it like a red headed step-child and leave it alone (and oh, yeah, promote it!) we might see a strong gain in numbers. Chalk that up to prayer without hope.

Lets have two discussion posts, shall we? The other one will last beyond the season finale but this one is only fun until Monday when we'll get the answer in 'The Pain in the Heart'.

Who do you think is Gormogon and why? Drop us a comment and lets fill the time until we know without a doubt who is the crazy killer.

I'd love to see debate in comments but whether you're willing to wade into that or not there is now a poll on the left that will stay open at least through the start of Pain in the Heart. (Edit: I can't believe I forgot to put Clark on the poll list...)